"Help, we're eating out!" - Chinese food

This is a tricky one, although not impossible.

As usual, I can only tell you my own findings. This list only applies to takeout or restaurant food. If you are using this to buy Chinese food from a store then remember to always check to packet!

So, the definitely safe list:

Starters

• Prawn toast
• Vegetable spring rolls (probably the meant ones too) but NOT the dip!!
• Prawn crackers
• Duck and pancakes, although not the veg or the sauce that usually comes with them.

Sides

• All varieties of rice (fried and boiled), unless you know it is going to have a veg with citric acid in it. In general they don't.
• Noodles (depending in the sauce!)

Mains

• Sweet chilli beef
• *insert favourite meat* and cashew nut
• *insert favourite meat* in black bean sauce
• Chicken satay 

There are probably several others that are edible - stay away from anything red coloured or lemon-y! Sweet and sour is a definite no-go, here.

Incidentally, you can also drink Chinese tea (I don't like it myself, but other people rave about it, so...)

"Help, we're eating out!" - Coffee House 101

Ok, picture the scene: you're out with friends, you're getting tired. Time for a sit down and a drink. You enter the coffee house.

What CAN I drink?

You're tired, you're starting to get hungry...

 Is there anything I can eat? 

Let's start with the basics:

All the coffees are out (caffeine) as are the hot chocolates (cocoa powder). However, if you are lucky enough to not be allergic to caffeine or cocoa, I can tell you that neither contain citric acid. Even decaff coffee still has some caffeine in it.

You may be able to drink the apple juice most of these places sell in bottles. Check the label, but the careful - citric acid is tricksy and has been know to hide under the name E330.

If they serve white hot chocolate that is an option.

Banana, toffee or white chocolate milkshakes are USUALLY ok, depending on the ice-cream they are using. Ask to see the packet, especially in countries other then England, because I can't vouch for what other places use as standard. Be careful of apple milkshakes (they may use apple sauce, and the preservative in that is...)



Do not assume you can eat the blueberry muffins. Some places add lemon juice.
As far as food goes, it is sandwiches (check no salad, which butter, no cheese, mayonnaise brand) or things in a packet listing the ingredients, I'm afraid.

I can now vouch for the Starbucks blueberry muffin.That is the regular one, not the skinny.Who knows, skinny one might be alright as well - but I cannot vouch for it.

I'll report back if I find other things in my wanderings, because I love coffee shops.

"Help, we're eating out!" - The Chip Shop

Seeing as takeout and restaurant food generally doesn't come with ingredient lists, you have to be pretty careful when you order.

So...in the chippy.

• You can order fish and chips without worrying. Oh, but in and eat-in situation you may need to specify that you don't want lemon on/with it. Salt and vinegar are both safe (vinegar has...ascorbic acid? Mallic? Either way it isn't citric, and that makes all the difference here)

• Beef burgers are ok, (including the battered ones) as long as you don't get salad on it (yes, lettuce contains citric acid!). I am not sure about gherkins, so I'd play it safe. No ketchup (tomatoes!), so I'm afraid if you are getting this option you'll probably be eating it plain.

• Beware the sausages!! They might be ok, they might not. Best to steer clear.

• Pies and puddings: There are so, so many different issues factors here, What butter was used in the pastry? Are the pies fresh? If not, did they have citric acid added to make them keep? What kind of gravy was used inside them? To me it isn't worth the hassle.

• Sides.... well, curry sauce is almost certain to contain citric acid. Mushy peas are probably ok. Gravy is a chance; which brand do they use? If you ask they might have a package with an ingredients list you can study.

Coca-Cola and Pepsi - which are safe?

Technically (caffeine being off the menu) these should not be consumed, but... well, sometimes you NEED a caffeine hit. Even when you're not meant to (If you're me, especially when you're not meant to!)

If you have ever glanced at the ingredients in a bottle of cola, you'll probably be horrified by the amount of ingredients. Including citric acid.

But all is not lost!

For some strange reason, even though pretty much every other type of cola has the dreaded citric acid in it,

  Coca-Cola zero

and

Pepsi

have been left unscathed. That only includes the original sugar-packed Pepsi, but considering all the shouting being done about artificial sweeteners, you might be better off with the sugar.

Are there ANY safe fizzy drinks?

Ok, so you're now faced with the dilemma of trying to find something fizzy to drink. You could take the high road and say,

"Well, fizzy drinks were bad for me anyway. I'm better off without."

Unfortunately, I have never been a campaigner for that approach. I like to keep the options open!

As far as fizzy goes, you're pretty limited, I'm afraid. Thankfully (because there is always a bright side!) what there is seems to be sold pretty widely, so you won't have to go to outer Mongolia for your carbonated fix.

So, I present to you...

Tango apple

Both the bottles and cans of this are safe to drink. Convenient, as I always thought it was the best one, anyway!

Sparkling Rubicon Mango

(N.B. Check you are getting the sparkling Rubicon Mango NOT the still one. The still one contains citric acid. Don't ask me why.)

Again, both the can and bottle are safe to drink.